January 03, 2014

Reuters Video: London zoo takes stock of more than 19,000 creatures that call the park home

It's a busy start to the new year at London Zoo as keepers begin the mammoth task of counting all their creatures for the annual stocktake. Sharon Reich reports.

TRANSCRIPTREPORTER: Counting all these penguins, now that could take a while. And it's just what the folks at the London Zoo are doing. In fact, at the start of each year they take stock of all the creatures at the zoo - right down to the last insect. LONDON ZOO MANAGER MARK HABBEN: "We do it really to give us a good understanding of how successful we've been over the preceding year. To see what births we've had and to really keep a good eye on the collection, and we have to update all of our records as well, so it's just a great way of keeping in touch with exactly how many animals we have." REPORTER: That's the zoo's manager Mark Habben. He says the information is shared with other zoos and comes in handy when breeding programs are being planned. And speaking of breeding, zookeepers are keeping a watchful eye on Kumbuka - a new silverback gorilla - who they hope will help increase the numbers in next year's stock take. LONDON ZOO MANAGER MARK HABBEN: "He is getting on incredibly well with the females, he has settled into that exhibit really nicely, he has given everyone a run for his money because he is such a character and yet all I can tell you is that he has been very compatible with the girls and we've all got our fingers crossed." REPORTER: Last year's big count showed that the zoo is home to more than 19,000 creatures across 800 species. Keepers won't know the exact figure of this year's stock take until the end of next week.

VOCABULARYIf you take stock (of something), you make a list of all the goods in a shop/store or business.

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Reuters Video: London zoo takes stock of more than 19,000 creatures that call the park home

It's a busy start to the new year at London Zoo as keepers begin the mammoth task of counting all their creatures for the annual stocktake. Sharon Reich reports.

TRANSCRIPTREPORTER: Counting all these penguins, now that could take a while. And it's just what the folks at the London Zoo are doing. In fact, at the start of each year they take stock of all the creatures at the zoo - right down to the last insect. LONDON ZOO MANAGER MARK HABBEN: "We do it really to give us a good understanding of how successful we've been over the preceding year. To see what births we've had and to really keep a good eye on the collection, and we have to update all of our records as well, so it's just a great way of keeping in touch with exactly how many animals we have." REPORTER: That's the zoo's manager Mark Habben. He says the information is shared with other zoos and comes in handy when breeding programs are being planned. And speaking of breeding, zookeepers are keeping a watchful eye on Kumbuka - a new silverback gorilla - who they hope will help increase the numbers in next year's stock take. LONDON ZOO MANAGER MARK HABBEN: "He is getting on incredibly well with the females, he has settled into that exhibit really nicely, he has given everyone a run for his money because he is such a character and yet all I can tell you is that he has been very compatible with the girls and we've all got our fingers crossed." REPORTER: Last year's big count showed that the zoo is home to more than 19,000 creatures across 800 species. Keepers won't know the exact figure of this year's stock take until the end of next week.

VOCABULARYIf you take stock (of something), you make a list of all the goods in a shop/store or business.